APD-TV news goes real time

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Instead of giving each officer a 20-minute DVD with updated department news and information every month, APD-TV is now offering round-the-clock programming at all police stations.

The main station as well all substations are showing a looping hour of programming with news updates, training videos and maps of where predictive analysis says crime is expected to happen.

APD-TV has been around for 20 years, and the newest program is meant to be a training tool for officers during their briefings. It scrolls important arrests that were made as well as daily alerts and pictures of wanted criminals.

During emergencies, Chief Ray Schultz can go on TV to give important instructions to his officers.

The chief said showing mug shots of wanted criminals on APD-TV has already worked.

"We've had a couple cases where information has come out about active criminals within respective area commands," he said.  "The officers have seen it, and they've been taking the information while sitting in briefing, seeing the information and seeing real pictures of people involved in crimes and being able to go out and solve those crimes."

Schultz he got the idea for broadcasting updates 24 hours a day from big-city police forces like Houston's.

He said it's APD's goal to eventually have the program running on every police vehicle's computer.